The Pack of Lies

" Alina said, her voice steady b

bark with her fingernail, she sat at the ba

her

that were visible through the branches above as she rested her head back against the rugged trunk. Alina

looked at her sister, her e

tightened. "Avoiding everyone.

augh. "What place? The one behin

" Alina said, her

's not fair is spending your whole life being

den eyes steady and unyielding.

oser, her voice low but trembling. "It's in everyth

sts at her sides. Rather, she looked about the clearing as thoug

Her voice softened, but there was still steel beneath

na. They need you. The chosen

ce was quiet now, but her words carried the wei

"Is that not what is

down at the ceremonial dagger at her waist

ked with Esm

world where they weren't pitted against each other by

a," Esme said, her voice ti

ssion unreadable, before s

familiar ache in her ch

rustling in the wind. Esme dropped back to the ground and drew her

ame wall between them, the same tension, the same words. Even though they were identical tw

rule. One tw

defined everything-the way their father trained Alina relentlessly, the way

g her fingers to her face. Then a low, savage gr

stirred

shadows beyond the clearing. "Alin

silence. And then-anothe

ifted, and a pair of glowing ambe

into the moonlight, its fur sle

ay this far into Crescent Valley, not

once more, but it was not a strong one, only a whisper from the periphery of her awareness.

to fight you." To begin with, the rogue didn't respond verbally. It

er to run, but her legs felt like they were stuck to the earth. Esme was prepared as the rogue lunged once more. With a last-minute sidestep, she grabbed a falling limb and swung it as hard as she could. The wolf yelled and staggered back when the

to shift fully, not l

o attack-and then, out of nowhere, a

into the rogue, bringing them both plummeting to the ground before the rogu

ng heavily as his chest rose and fell. His clothing were ripped, the fabric stained with blood, and his dark hair fell into his eyes. With her instincts telling her to run, Esme took a wobbly step back. With a

ly," he said, his voic

ced by anger. "I did not cal

d, stepping closer, "but

nger this time, and she clenche

, the man studies her for

rn

danger," he said.

her eyes. "Y

ot all rogues are your enemy. Some of us kno

e wh

the sacred oak behind her. "The p

her heart skipping beats. "

oice lowering. "Ask your father. A

ned and disappeared into the fore

acing. The rogue. The strang

g made

ain, and this time, it

the prophecy. She felt there was more to it that she